CVE-2015-4994 in Lotus Domino
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in IBM Domino 8.5.1 through 8.5.3 before 8.5.3 FP6 IF10 and 9.x before 9.0.1 FP4 IF3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (SMTP daemon crash) via a crafted GIF image, aka SPRs KLYH9ZDKRE and KLYH9ZTLEZ, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5040.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4994 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting IBM Domino email and collaboration server versions 8.5.1 through 8.5.3 before 8.5.3 FP6 IF10 and 9.x before 9.0.1 FP4 IF3. This security issue specifically targets the SMTP daemon component of the Domino server, creating a pathway for remote attackers to gain unauthorized system access or disrupt service availability. The vulnerability manifests through the processing of specially crafted GIF image files, which triggers memory corruption in the server's handling routines. The flaw is particularly concerning because it allows for arbitrary code execution, enabling attackers to potentially gain complete control over affected systems while also providing a means for denial of service attacks through daemon crashes. The vulnerability was tracked under SPRs KLYH9ZDKRE and KLYH9ZTLEZ, distinguishing it from related issues such as CVE-2015-5040 that affects different components of the same software suite.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs within the GIF image parsing functionality of the Domino SMTP daemon, where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to craft malicious image data that exceeds the allocated buffer space. When the server processes these specially crafted GIF files, typically through email attachments or web-based file uploads, the overflow corrupts adjacent memory locations and can potentially overwrite critical program execution pointers or return addresses. This memory corruption ultimately leads to either arbitrary code execution when the corrupted execution flow redirects to attacker-controlled code or system crash when the daemon encounters corrupted memory structures. The vulnerability specifically affects the server's handling of GIF image metadata and image data streams, where the parsing routines fail to properly validate the size and structure of incoming image data against allocated buffer boundaries. This weakness directly maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of insufficient boundary checking in input validation routines.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4994 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass full system compromise potential for organizations running vulnerable IBM Domino servers. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code with the privileges of the Domino server process, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system infiltration, or lateral movement within network environments. The ability to cause SMTP daemon crashes creates additional operational risks including email service interruptions, message queue corruption, and potential denial of service conditions that can severely impact business operations. Organizations with Domino servers processing email traffic or hosting web applications that accept file uploads become particularly vulnerable, as attackers can exploit this weakness through standard email channels or web-based interfaces without requiring local system access. The vulnerability affects both Domino 8.x and 9.x server versions, creating a broad attack surface that spans multiple generations of the platform, with the specific affected ranges indicating that even recent patches may not fully address the issue in all configurations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4994 should prioritize immediate implementation of vendor-provided patches and updates, specifically targeting the 8.5.3 FP6 IF10 and 9.0.1 FP4 IF3 releases that contain the necessary fixes. Organizations should implement network-level protections such as email filtering rules that block or scan GIF file attachments, particularly those that may contain embedded malicious content. The implementation of input validation controls at multiple layers including web application firewalls and email security appliances can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. System administrators should monitor for unusual SMTP daemon behavior or crash patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while also implementing comprehensive logging and monitoring of file upload activities. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation by reducing the attack surface and preventing lateral movement. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in other applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for execution through command and scripting interfaces, while also aligning with T1499 for network denial of service attacks, making comprehensive defensive measures essential for protecting against both immediate exploitation and potential long-term compromise scenarios.